Gold Coast distiller Catie Fry at Burleigh may face complaint

UPDATED: A Gold Coast mum is making no apologies for vowing to employ women-only at a new distillery despite an alleged Human Rights Commission complaint against her.

• 50+ Photos: Major crowds welcome 2021 on Coast
• Celebrities’ wild nights out on Gold Coast
• Stunning location of new oyster bar

UPDATED:
A GOLD Coast mum is making no apologies for vowing to employ women-only at a new distillery despite an alleged Human Rights Commission complaint against her.

The already successful distiller who has a line of award-winning spirits with her husband has decided to make a range of her own with female-only staff, Saturday’s Bulletin revealed.

Ms Fry planned to open Clovendoe alongside the family’s original distilling business in March at Burleigh Heads but the all-female staff plan is to show women can make spirits just as well as men and even up a gender imbalance in the industry, she said.

New distillery Clovendoe Distilling Co’s co-owner Catie Fry is making no apologises for her female-only staff approach. Picture Glenn Hampson

Ms Fry’s stance drew a barrage of critics and upset one reader to the point where they claim they had complained to the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

The complainant sent an email to Ms Fry claiming: “It seems that your management have publicised the fact that for Clovendoe … vow to only hire women to prove females can make spirits as well as the lads. This is unlawful.”

She had said in Saturday’s Bulletin: “I started observing the guys while they were distilling and what p---ed me off was it was just assumed I couldn’t play with the big still.

FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS

“It’s such a male dominated industry. I had a moment where I’d literally just been distilling and one man asked for a tour and as I was about to begin, he asked for the distiller to do it.”

Comments by critical readers claimed she was being discriminatory.

The Bulletin’s Facebook page was inundated by remarks such as Paul Chapman’s, who said: “Can we imagine the reaction if a business said they would only be hiring men. I can see the court action now. But hey it is always OK when it's the other way around isn’t it.”

A new distillery, Clovendoe Distilling Co, is opening at Burleigh in March 2021. Picture Glenn Hampson

But Ms Fry said she would not apologise for giving women an opportunity to work in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

“One of my goals is to balance the playing field in a traditionally male-dominated industry and I’m not backing down on that,” she said.

“I am trying to draw attention to the benefits of bringing a greater level of diversity to the industry by supporting and developing women who are interested in working in this field.”

She wanted to ask readers who were “outraged” by her desire to work with women to research the percentage of females in the industry.

“Let’s talk about why you think it’s so unfair that a small business wants to work with and upskill women in an industry that’s so under represented?

“I’m glad I’ve started a conversation about diversity in this field. I believe the industry and consumers will benefit from increased representation of women and celebrating diversity.

“It will improve opportunities for everyone and bring new and innovative products to the market.”

EARLIER:

A FEISTY Gold Coast entrepreneur who is sick of misogynistic attitudes towards female distillers is starting a women-only operation.

Catie Fry and husband Warren Brewer are already behind central Queensland’s Saleyards Distillery which produces award-winning spiced rum and gin but Ms Fry is now starting new Clovendoe Distillery Co.

For Clovendoe she vows to only hire women to prove females can make spirits as well as the lads.

“I started observing the guys while they were distilling and what p---ed me off was it was just assumed I couldn’t play with the big still,” Ms Fry said.

Clovendoe Distilling Co. is opening at Burleigh Heads in March. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“It’s such a male dominated industry. I had a moment where I’d literally just been distilling and one man asked for a tour and as I was about to begin, he asked for the distiller to do it.

“I don’t need to employ men.

“There’s no aspect of the production or skill that requires a man.

FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS

“There are so many talented and skilled women, so my mission is to employ women only from sales and bottling, to making the spirits,” she said.

Clovendoe is set to open alongside Ms Fry’s original distilling business at Burleigh Heads in March and will sell handcrafted botanical zero-proof and low-alcohol spirits.

She said the range was also targeted towards women particularly if “sober curious” but still wanted to enjoy a sophisticated drink that wasn’t a “childish, sugary mocktail”.

Clovendoe Distilling Co. co-owner Catie Fry. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“The seed was planted throughout my pregnancy and while I was breastfeeding. I like white spirits, but I didn’t want a hangover.

“I already didn’t feel very special and like I was missing out and I just wanted a 30ml poured non-alcoholic spirit mixed in with a garnish. And I heard that echoed by a lot of my girlfriends and young mums.

“I bought a 20L copper pot still and distilled throughout the nights making these products and then finally settled on the range I have now.

“Obviously I’ve created the range through a female lens and looked at botanicals that women are after and match really well with soda water,” she said. “Women are also after something more refreshing and light, low in calories or gluten and sugar free.”

Follow @CallcottJodie